Means for separating liquids of different specific gravities



Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,151

R; C. KNIGHT ET AL MEANS FOR SEPARATING mqums OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC exmvmms Filed Feb. 2 1924 Jrwmom, ROBERT Cur-row Kmqnr, Huq

Patented F 23, lfl iit was STATES ra rrur OFFIGE.

ROBERT CLIFTON KNIGHT, OF PINNER, AND HUGH DUNFORD SMITH, OF

NEWCASTLE- UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND.

MEANSFOB SEPARATING LIQUIDS'OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES.

Application filed February 29, 1924. Serial No. 696,067.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Rosana CLIFTON KNIGHT, of Lewdon, Vest End Avenue, Pinner, in the county oi .l/liddiesex, Eng

land, and HUGH DUNFORD SMITH, of 7 Side,

in the city and county of Newcastle-upon- Tyne, England, both subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improved Means for 10 Separating Liquids of Different Specific Gravities, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for separating liquidsof different specific gravi ties of the type in which the intermingled liquids are passed into a vertically or diagonally disposed U-shaped or two legged con duit (or a conduit approximately of that shape), the lighter liquid remaining in one leg and the heavier liquid passing down the tube around the bend and rising up the other leg, an outlet being provided in each leg for the separated liquids.

In apparatus of this type as hitherto constructed the mixture has been placed under pressure the heavier liquid being drawn off at a higher level than the lighter liquid and the vessel has consequently been closed at the end from which the lighter liquid has been drawn; further, air has been allowed to pass off with the lighter liquid.

The object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus of this type.

Apparatus made in accordance with this invention is characterized in that the intermingled liquids are passed into one leg of the U-shaped conduit at or near the top, the said leg being open to the atmosphere and in that the lighter liquid is drawn off at a higher level than the heavier liquid and further'characterized in that the leg of the conduit is suiiiciently deep to allow the lighter liquidto ascend against the down ward flow of the incoming mixture.

According to. this invention we may also provide means for varying. the height of the working level ofliquid in the U-shaped conduit and we may also provide means for regulating the height of the inflowand/0r outflow of the separated liquids. The sep arated liquids may be caused to pass through a scrubber or other suitable filter.

Means may be provided for drawing off one or both of the separated liquids.

Iteterring to the drawing filed herewith,

of oil has been; found to assi which shows one form of apparatus intended for separating oil and water made in accordance with this invention:

The apparatus comprises a U-shaped conduitconsisting of two legs a and Z). The leg 04 is provided with an inlet 0 for the intermingled liquids, thatls say the oily Water, filidi'iirfibfvjp'i I pipe 0 and are '0' eiflow pipe 03 is a diaphragm plate 6 the purpose of which will be described. A vent f is disposed on the top of the leg a. The upper portion of the leg 6 terminates ina bell mouth 9 and is disposed in an observation trap h. The bell inis sa twater, to ileabf as sl lawn Wherehyit illtig i adjusted Surroundingthe outlet of the leg 6 is a wire gauze scrubber j and inthe wall of: the trap IL is an outlet in for the separated water which has to pass underneath a baffle in. before reaching the outlet. A steam heating coil 71 is provided in the tube a to render the oil less viscous and to assist in the separation of Water from the oil. In the bottom of the U-shaped conduit is a trap 0 for the purpose oft-drawing 01f any sludge or solid matter which may settle and a drain cock 3) is fitted for emptying the apparatus.

Adjacent the oil outflow are fitted a series of draw ofl' cocks r r.

In operation the legs a and b and also the trap h are filled with the heavier liquid, which in this case is water, and the level a shown approximately by the dotted line he. legb may be l/Vhen starting the apparatus it has been found desirable in practice to form a layer of oilon the oil overflow side of the diaphragm plate in the leg a as water is therehereinafter by prevented from passing through the oil overflow pipe and the presence of a fqglpn n interniing "liquids. Theintermingled oil and wateris fed into the leg a through the pipe 0 and travels downwards the plate 6 serving to prevent the intermingled liquids approaching the oil overflow pipe at and to deflect the upward rising oil which has been separated towards the said overflow pipe. The plate e also serves to restrict the superficial area of the separated oil and prevents disturbance of the ti s age umulate d oil by the infiowing mixture. As the intermlngled'.liquids flow dmy ar-d3 the Oil stake-listed and as tothesu of the water theileg a nd vpasses out by the overflow pl' e cl while the water passes on around the lid aitlthe bottoinof the conduit anditr'ai elsiiip tl1e,.-leg b where it flows mately by the dottedline and YY- respectively;-

Oil may be 1" 1' according collected.

It has been make the. lega largerin diameter than the leg-Z) and moreover to carry the larger area roundthe-bottom ol the-conduit and 'for-a short distance up the leg. Z); the object being to maintain a slow rate of flow of the llqul il' round the bottom of the COlKl-lllt-flllfil to reduce turbulence."

It is of the-greatestimportance that the legs of the U-shapedconduit 'be of adequate the depth the greater depth as the greater the elliolency 0t separatioln lV-ith a conduit of suitabledepth-the turbulence caused by the incoming'hquidis minimized and a re' duction in turbulenceincreases the e'llicienoy of the separation.

\Vh'at weclann and desire 'to; secureby Letters Patent 1s:

1. Apparatusfor separating liquids of different speeifio gl'avities comprising a sub-- stantially U shaped tube onele'gotsaid tube being of larger cross-sectional area thanthe other and the bend being of 'substantiallythesame cross-sectional area as that of the larger leg, saldlarger" leghaVmg an-anlet and an outlet thereto, said inlet'being atithe top of the leg and the .outlet distanced-from the top, said smaller I leg having an outlet 'at the top the eol and a. battle positioned insaid larger leg between theinlet and the outlet thereof.

2. Apparatus for separating liquids of ditlerentspeoifio gravities comprising a. subsoantially tube merging into thesaid legs having a cross-sectional area-substantiallythe same as that of the largerleg', saidlarger-leghaving draw-n oilat one or" the cooksto the thickness "of the layer found desirable in practice to- U-shapedtubehaving legs of dit ferent cross-sectional areas, the-bend of said.

an inlet at the top thereof, and an outlet positioned near the-top thereof, ano'outlet at the top. of said smaller leg, and a battle posisitioned in said large .legtroetween the inlet and. the outlet, said bathe extending below the outlet.

3. An apparatussfor-separatingliquids of different specific gravities as set forth in clainrQ further :eharaeterized by a heater positioned in proximity to the outlet of said larger leg; andextending:ahore' the? lower end of the battle;

4.: Anapparatus for separating liqiuds of dili'erent specific gravities as-i-setvi ortlriin claim 2, further eharacterizedby a-heater p0 sitioned in proximity .to the outlet of: said larger leg and extendingoabovedhe lowerend of the bahlaanda plurality of vert-icallyar-n ranged c-utoil cocks onthe larger leg below" outlet said balile extendin 'ibelowwthe outlet and a heater positioned :in a proximity to the outlet of said larger leg. r

6. Apparatus for separating liquids: of different spe-cilio:gravities: comprising a; Us: shaped tube having legs ofidillerent: across-1 sectional area,: the smaller leg -being=.-iat least: twice as long as the horizontal widthoftthe larger leg, the bend I otisa-id tubesmerging: into the said legs-having.- aierossesectional area substantially the same asztliat otx'the larger leg said larger legglravingganr inlet thereto'at thetopthereof; and an outlet positioned near the. top; thereofg an adj ust-a able outletat tlietop of said smaller leg ia-ndl a bathe positioned "in saidJlarger-leg betweenthe inlet andthe 0utlet,1 said .ball'les extending:

belowthe outlet: 1.

In testnnony whereof; W61 afiixs our signas:

tures.

ROBERT CLIFTON KNIGHT; HUG-H DUNFORD SIVII'IH; 

